Service intervals - So annoying

[Nanu]

We all know that BMWs, like many cars these days have servicing based not only on mileage done but also time.

One thing particularly annoying is my Zed was built late February 2020 but was first registered in September 2020. As a result the first 2 years time based service was in February 2022, not from when it was first used. So I paid for the required first (Minor) service 6 moths earlier than planned. :x

Now its February again and despite only having 18K on the clock, a Major service is due. This includes the usual oil change and various filters as in the minor service but also includes new spark plugs. It doesn't matter that the plugs are still near perfect, they have to be replaced according to BMW. The main dealer has quoted £586 for the major service. An BMW approved independent has today quoted £436 (The minor service would have been £276).

When I asked why such a large difference in the price between a minor and major service when the only difference I could see was the 4 spark plugs, I was told they also update the software and maps as part of the service. I did tell them that they are updated as part of the connected drive already, told it was a package and without it my car would not show on the BMW service history as being fully serviced.

No doubt I could just have an oil change and filters replaced by just any garage at a lot cheaper cost. Question, is it worth it?

Opinions welcome

 

[BTZ461]

Service the car based on mileage perhaps?

 

[Scubaregs]

Service the car based on mileage perhaps?

Loses you the BMW service history, it's mile or time dependant.
BMW will probably argue as it's the above, the fact the car wasn’t registered for 6 months, it's still a time dependant.

 

[brillomaster]

Is it out of warranty? If it is, switch to a decent independent.
The only reason I'd use a main dealer for servicing is to maintain a warranty.

 

[Boyo]

It depends what your future plans are for your car.

 

[sars]

The UK Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Order remains in place, thus as long as your vehicle is serviced, by an independent, with BMW recommended parts it won't affect your warranty and unless you purchased an extension, which expired last September, it is possibly a mute point.

I find it amusing that one would spend +£40k on a car and then decide not to spend the extra £160 (at the indy) on replacing the parts as recommended by the manufacturer based on their experiences, but it is your choice.

 

[Rockhopper]

BMW are well known for making out of warranty payments if you have an issue but only if the car has a full BMW main dealer service history. Sometimes they cover the cost of new parts, sometimes they pay for everything. Several friends of mine with newer BMW's have been able to do this.

 

[Pondrew]

This scenario is the main reason why I got rid of my F33 and bought older BMs without the modern iDrive and their dictatorial service messages.

To get rid of my service lights I had to have a 'major' service which included six plugs (B58) for £450 (indy with BMW software) at just 12,000 miles. Absolutely ridiculous but they "couldn't reset the indicators without them being done". They meant they "wouldn't reset the indicators".

Paid the rip off £450, drove out the garage and half way home the service indicators all lit up again for a brake fluid service! So, from my point of view, that was £450 for nothing as the car had only done about 2,000 miles since the last service! :thumbsdown:

 

[r2uzenblot]

I agree that the service charges can be a bit of a rip off but if you are thinking of changing your car within say the first 4-5 years the charges are worth it. I changed my 3 year old G29 for a new one last summer and the BMW dealer (who had serviced it) said they didn't need to look at the car as they had the full service history and then gave me what I thought was a very good deal. Of course if you plan to keep it for many years (which is my plan) then it could be worthwhile saving on service costs.

 

[CliveN]

Getting it all done according to time can be a bind. I have a BMW that’s under extended warranty which has low annual mileage and at its mileage of 5000 has already gone through 3 sets of new plugs…. Were they needed? Of course not but for the warranty unfortunately they were vital. The good news though is that you no longer necessarily have to do an oil change every year. With a car out of warranty I would still get it serviced as per the book. I would rather this than potentially have problems further up the line

 

[Boyo]

My understanding of the 4 yearly change of the spark plugs is to prevent them from seizing in situ, which potentially is a very expensive problem.

 

[CliveN]

Unfortunately and sound you believe it my plugs have to be changed every two years or 20000 miles.

 

[Ole gits rule]

My M4 is inits 6th wild change, 3rd brake fluid change and second set of plugs coming up end of march ay 35k miles, totally pointless based on the mileage.

I had a quote from Sytner for a full service and brake fluid change as one gout of sync due to Covid nd they wanted £1050, one local indie was £120 more so sent a few mails and got a quote from Autoworks in Swindon for £725 all in including diff oil, so its off in there at the end of march.

For me its too far out of warranty for any help via BMW if anything goes wrong so, an indie is now the way to go as long as they update the iDrive, I plan to keep the car at least 5 years (at the moment but I may get Pondrewitis at some point), so for me the saving is worth it.

 

[Pondrew]

I had a quote from Sytner for a full service and brake fluid change as one gout of sync due to Covid nd they wanted £1050, one local indie was £120 more so sent a few mails and got a quote from Autoworks in Swindon for £725 all in including diff oil, so its off in there at the end of march.

Being an 'M' you get those 'special' 'M' rates, ie double everything!
I may be wrong but I don't think the oil is enriched with gold flakes, or the brake fluid made from Dodo blood. Or the air filter elements made from 1000 year old parchment.
Maybe the plugs are honed from a solid piece of 'unobtainium'?

 

[Nanu]

Thanks for all the feedback guys

As a result on this occasion, I have decided to go with the major service but with an approved Indy nearby,(that B21 uses to tune his yellow peril.) Its money that I don't think is necessary but a compromise that's cheaper than the main dealership and it's still classed as being fully serviced as required if STMBO permits me to have a new 40M hopefully in the not too distant future.

Will be asking for the spark plugs they take out though, just in case I need to replace one in the future. Did the same with injectors in my previous E89 and a forum member benefitted from one. Will still feel ripped off

 

[Nictrix]

Its funny how the manufacturers change their minds over what needs done at what time or mileage.
Our old 23i at around 4 years old and 25k went in for a service. I asked for the plugs to be changed too and was told they didn't need to be changed. I think they said change at 60k but don't remember. I had to argue that I wanted them changed as a paying customer before they finally agreed. Brake fluid is the same, did it not change from 3 years to 2 years?

 

[Pondrew]

Its funny how the manufacturers change their minds over what needs done at what time or mileage.
Our old 23i at around 4 years old and 25k went in for a service. I asked for the plugs to be changed too and was told they didn't need to be changed. I think they said change at 60k but don't remember. I had to argue that I wanted them changed as a paying customer before they finally agreed. Brake fluid is the same, did it not change from 3 years to 2 years?

I was told plugs every 2 years regardless of mileage (B58) and brake fluid every 2 years aswell, because it soaks up water like a sponge you know! :roll:

I was also told I needed a new fuel filter on my last major service to 'put the lights out'. They didn't do that, though (probably couldn't be arsed as it is slightly more difficult and had made their money), yet still put the lights out. They make it up as they go along, depending how gullible you look IMHO.

There is also the issue with 'the environment' in all this......how much perfectly good engine oil is being junked and how many spark plugs are being buried just so garages can make a fortune?

We are being forced into EVs to serve the Gov's purposes, yet it's absolutely fine to throw away thousands of gallons of virtually unused engine oil, millions of spark plugs, gallons of brake fluid and millions of air filters for the millions of ICE cars on the road!

 

[Johnbmwz4]

One of my friends works in the oil industry and we had a similar conversation about cars (specifically mine) getting oil changes far too early due to time elements and not usage elements and he told me it’s all just a rip off by the motor industry and he agrees a total waste of good oil (and other parts) . He specifically works on ships and he said when their engines get serviced (if that’s what it’s called with ships and the like) they actually filter the original oil and re use it. The motor industry is on a win win situation. Maybe all the used oil collected from garages gets filtered then re packaged again? Now there’s a thought……..

 

[Rockhopper]

Used car engine oil does indeed get recycled.

How Is Used Oil Recycled?
Used engine oil can, in fact, be cleaned and reused. The old oil is refined into new oil, lubricants, fuel oils and used for raw materials. The old oil also comprises of metals which can be recycled. The refining process is:

• Extracting water from the oil by putting it in large settling tanks, which allows separation of the oil from water.
• The oil is filtered and demineralised to remove any inorganic material, solids and certain additives existing in the oil, giving a cleaner burner fuel for further refining
• The following stage is propane de-asphalting to extract the heavier bituminous fractions, bringing forth re-refined base oil
• Finally, the oil is distilled to produce re-refined oil suitable for usage as a lubricant, hydraulic or transformer oil.

 

[Ole gits rule]

I had a quote from Sytner for a full service and brake fluid change as one gout of sync due to Covid nd they wanted £1050, one local indie was £120 more so sent a few mails and got a quote from Autoworks in Swindon for £725 all in including diff oil, so its off in there at the end of march.

Being an 'M' you get those 'special' 'M' rates, ie double everything!
I may be wrong but I don't think the oil is enriched with gold flakes, or the brake fluid made from Dodo blood. Or the air filter elements made from 1000 year old parchment.
Maybe the plugs are honed from a solid piece of 'unobtainium'?

Hence using an Indie rather than BME 30% cheaper and as Nanu I will be asking for the plugs as well - I bet there's nothing wrong with them at all.